Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.
1. A computer-implemented method performed at a server system, using at least one computer processor, the method comprising: presenting to a first member of a social networking system a user interface for composing a message to be communicated to a second member of the social networking system, the user interface having i) a content area via which the first member can specify content for the message to be communicated to the second member, ii) an offer area via which the first member can specify an offer to be made to the second member, and iii) a user interface control element that enables the first member to generate a request to make the message a limited time message; responsive to the first member interacting with the user interface control element, receiving a request to make the message a limited time message; responsive to receiving the request: accessing member profile data associated with the second member, the member profile data associated with the second member including message response history data of the second member; determining analytic information including a plurality of message expiration time recommendations and for each recommendation a likelihood that the second member will respond to the message within the expiration time being recommended, the analytic information derived based, at least in part, on member profile data of a plurality of members and using a model that has been generated using a computer learning technique, the model trained using message response history data of the plurality of members as included in the member profile data of the plurality of members; transmitting the analytic information for presentation to the first member in the user interface; receiving an expiration time selection from the first member, the expiration time selection indicating a message expiration time to be applied to the message; and creating a limited time message set to self-delete subsequent to being delivered to the second member when the message expiration time has elapsed, such that the limited time message will not be viewable by the second member when the message expiration time has elapsed; and transmitting the limited time message to the second member.
Social networking systems. This invention addresses the problem of improving message engagement and response rates within social networks by introducing time-limited messages with intelligent expiration time suggestions. The system allows a user to compose a message and optionally specify an offer to another user. A special control element enables the sender to designate the message as a "limited time message." Upon activation of this control, the system analyzes the recipient's past message response behavior, along with data from many other users, using a predictive model trained on this historical data. This analysis generates recommendations for message expiration times, each associated with a calculated probability that the recipient will respond within that timeframe. These recommendations are presented to the sender. The sender then selects a desired expiration time. A message is then created and sent to the recipient, configured to automatically delete itself and become unviewable after the selected expiration time has passed. This encourages timely responses by creating a sense of urgency.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein transmitting the analytic information for presentation to the first member in the user interface includes presenting to the first member the plurality of expiration time recommendations, and with each recommendation, a likelihood that the second member will respond to the message with the expiration time being recommended.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: notifying the second member that a time-limited message is available.
This invention relates to communication systems, specifically methods for managing time-limited messages between members of a network. The problem addressed is ensuring that recipients are promptly notified of time-sensitive messages to prevent missed communication opportunities. The method involves sending a time-limited message from a first member to a second member, where the message is automatically deleted after a predefined duration. The key improvement is the addition of a notification system that alerts the second member when such a message is available. This ensures the recipient is aware of the message's existence before it expires, enhancing communication reliability. The notification may include details such as the sender's identity, the message's expiration time, or a preview of the content. The system may also prioritize notifications for messages nearing their expiration to further reduce the risk of missed communication. This method is particularly useful in secure or ephemeral messaging platforms where message retention is intentionally limited. The invention improves upon existing time-limited messaging systems by proactively informing recipients of available messages, addressing the critical issue of message visibility in ephemeral communication environments.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the message expiration time is an amount of time that begins counting down when the message is created.
5. The method of claim 1 ; wherein the message expiration time is an amount of time that begins counting down when the message is presented to the second member.
This invention relates to secure messaging systems, specifically methods for managing message expiration in a communication platform where messages are exchanged between members. The problem addressed is ensuring that sensitive or time-sensitive messages are automatically removed or become inaccessible after a predefined period, enhancing privacy and security. The method involves a messaging system where a first member sends a message to a second member. The message includes an expiration time, which is an amount of time that begins counting down when the message is presented to the second member. Once the expiration time elapses, the message is automatically deleted or otherwise made inaccessible to the second member. The system may also notify the second member when the message is about to expire or has expired. The method may further include additional security measures, such as encrypting the message during transmission and storage, and ensuring that the expiration time is enforced even if the second member attempts to access the message after it has expired. The system may also track when the message was first presented to the second member to accurately determine when the expiration period begins. This approach ensures that messages with sensitive or time-limited information are automatically removed from the recipient's access, reducing the risk of unauthorized access or retention beyond the intended duration. The method is particularly useful in applications where privacy and data security are critical, such as in enterprise communication platforms or secure messaging apps.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: in accordance with a determination that the message expiration time has not elapsed, determining whether the remaining expiration time is below a predetermined threshold time; in accordance with a determination that the remaining expiration time is below a predetermined threshold time, transmitting a reminder to a client device associated with the second member, the reminder indicating the remaining expiration time for the limited time message.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein transmitting the limit time message to the second member further comprises: causing the limited time message to be presented on a display associated with making the message available to the second member via the server system.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein transmitting the limited time message to the second member further comprises: adding the message to an inbox associated with the second member of the social networking system, and wherein deleting the limited time message further comprises removing the message from the inbox associated with the second member of the social networking system.
This invention relates to a social networking system that manages limited-time messages. The problem addressed is the need to control the visibility and persistence of messages within a social network, ensuring they are only accessible for a predefined duration before being automatically deleted. The system involves transmitting a limited-time message from a first member to a second member of the social network. The message is added to the second member's inbox, where it remains visible for a specified time period. After this period expires, the message is automatically deleted from the inbox, ensuring it is no longer accessible to the recipient. This mechanism prevents permanent storage of time-sensitive or ephemeral content, enhancing user privacy and control over message retention. The invention also includes a method for managing message visibility, where the limited-time message is displayed in the recipient's inbox only during the designated time window. Once the time expires, the system removes the message from the inbox, effectively erasing it from the recipient's view. This ensures that messages intended to be temporary do not remain in the system indefinitely, addressing concerns related to data retention and unwanted message persistence. The system may also include features to notify the recipient when a limited-time message is received and when it is about to expire, enhancing user awareness of the message's temporary nature.
9. A system comprising: one or more processors; memory; and one or more programs stored in the memory, the one or more programs comprising instructions for: presenting to a first member of a social networking system a user interface for composing a message to be communicated to a second member of the social networking system, the user interface having i) a content area via which the first member can specify content for the message to be communicated to the second member, ii) an offer area via which the first member can specify an offer to be made to the second member; and iii) a user interface control element that enables the first member to generate a request to make the message a limited time message; responsive to the first member interacting with the user interface control element, receiving a request to make the message a limited time message; responsive to receiving the request: accessing member profile data associated with the second member, the member profile data associated with the second member including message response history data of the second member; determining analytic information including a plurality of message expiration time recommendations and for each recommendation a likelihood that the second member will respond to the message within the expiration time being recommended, the analytic information derived based, at least in part, on member profile data of a plurality of members and using a model that has been generated using a computer learning technique, the model trained using message response history data of the plurality of members as included in the member profile data of the plurality of members; receiving an expiration time selection from the first member, the expiration time selection indicating a message expiration time to be applied to the message; and creating a limited time message set to self-delete subsequent to being delivered to the second member when the message expiration time has elapsed, such that the limited time message will not be viewable by the second member when the message expiration time has elapsed; and transmitting the limited time message to the second member.
10. The system of claim 9 , wherein transmitting the analytic information for presentation to the first member in the user interface includes presenting to the first member the plurality of expiration time recommendations, and with each recommendation, a likelihood that the second member will respond to the message with the expiration time being recommended.
11. The system of claim 9 , further comprising instructions for: determining whether the message expiration time has elapsed; in accordance with a determination that the message expiration time has elapsed, deleting the message such that it is no longer available to the second member.
12. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors of a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising: presenting to a first member of a social networking system a user interface for composing a message to be communicated to a second member of the social networking system, the user interface having i) a content area via which the first member can specify content for the message to be communicated to the second member, ii) an offer area via which the first member can specify an offer to be made to the second member, and iii) a user interface control element that enables the first member to generate a request to make the message a limited time message; responsive to the first member interacting with the user interface control element, receiving a request to make the message a limited time message; responsive to receiving the request: accessing member profile data associated with the second member, the member profile data of the second member including message response history data of the second member; determining analytic information including a plurality of message expiration time recommendations and for each recommendation a likelihood that the second member will respond to the message within the expiration time being recommended, the analytic information derived based, at least in part, on member profile data of a plurality of members and using a model that has been generated using a computer learning technique, the model trained using message response history data of the plurality of members as included in the member profile data of the plurality of members; receiving an expiration time selection from the first member, the expiration time selection indicating a message expiration time, the expiration time selection indicating a message expiration time to be applied to the message; and set to self-delete subsequent to being delivered to the second member when the message expiration time has elapsed, such that the limited time message will not be viewable by the second member when the message expiration time has elapsed; and transmitting the limited time message to the second member.
13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 12 , wherein transmitting the analytic information for presentation to the first member in the user interface includes presenting to the first member the plurality of expiration time recommendations, and with each recommendation, a likelihood that the second member will respond to the message with the expiration time being recommended.
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February 23, 2021
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